Bobby Zamora has urged QPR to tie down Charlie Austin to a new deal, saying it would be “crazy” if other clubs did not try to sign him.

Austin is the top-scoring Englishman in the Premier League and third overall, behind Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa. Austin is 13.00 to win the Golden Boot this season, with the Manchester City frontman 2.75 and the Chelsea star 1.80.

Hopefully, he can continue that and as a club we need to tie him down and get him a new deal.

Bobby Zamora

The QPR striker has scored 12 goals this season for a team which is battling against relegation. They sit in 16th place in the Premier League, just two points ahead of Sunday’s opponents Crystal Palace, who occupy the final relegation spot. Rangers are 2.60 to win the game, with Palace 3.00 and the draw 3.30.

Austin could fire his way into the England team in 2015 and this form has increased speculation he will leave QPR, particularly if they are relegated at the end of the season. This is 2.87 to happen, with Palace 2.62 to go down.

The striker has 18 months remaining on his current deal at Loftus Road and Zamora has urged the club to sort out the situation quickly.

He said: “He has 12 goals now and that’s brilliant.

“Hopefully, he can continue that and as a club we need to tie him down and get him a new deal.

“I’m pleased for him, he’s doing well and he works hard. Without a shadow of a doubt other clubs will be looking at him. If they’re not, then they’re crazy because he can get you that goal.”

Five years ago, Austin was playing non-league football for Poole Town while last season he fired QPR to promotion from the Championship.

Despite this, Zamora had no doubt that Austin could succeed in the Premier League.

He continued: “He wasn’t scoring wonder goals, going past four or five people – they are strikers’ goals, finishers’ goals. If you’ve got that ability, you can do it at any level.”

Austin will be hoping to get on the scoresheet against Palace and is 2.20 to do so.

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